TBWA Worldwide President Emmanuel Andre explains why TBWA values the transformative power of ideas and creativity and backs Room 13 International as part of their mission to provide a creative outlet for under-privileged children in some of the world’s most disadvantaged communities.

“Talent and ability are evenly distributed across the human race, but opportunity is not. It’s our role and our future to detect, invest and promote the talent the world is providing.”

In October, a team of volunteers from across the TBWA collective participated in SIYEZA (meaning “we are coming” in isiZulu), a five-day photo-adventure across South Africa.

TBWA teams, led by Emmanuel Andre, visited five different Room 13 studios in the South African townships to teach photography skills to Room 13 students. In addition to his “day job,” Andre is an accomplished photographer whose portraits have been published and featured in galleries around the world.

The sessions aimed to unlock the talents of young people by giving them a rare opportunity to learn photography skills and explore their own creative intuitions.

The resulting exhibition includes photographs featuring the young people who participated in the SIYEZA project. Sales of prints and merchandise will raise funds to support the Room 13 studios in South Africa.

Here is a brief update from Nepal with news on some of the community based recovery programmes we have been supporting with funds raised via Room 13 International.

Our colleagues on the ground in Nepal report that the loss of over eight thousand human lives, more than double that number injured, the perishing of over one lakh* animals, destruction of many buildings, rendering several lakh* people homeless, and the damages caused to other property or valuables has been simply devastating. But the earth-quakes and their aftershocks have taken a mental toll as well. (*one lakh = 100,000)

We aim to distribute the funds we are collecting widely, making small amounts available for locally based organisations to invest as they see fit. This way, we are happy that we can support communities to address a range of issues they have identified from physical needs and infra-structure to social and emotional wellbeing.

In the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes, Shanti Griha volunteers and staff organised distribution of tents and temporary shelter to survivors in stricken villages, working their way outwards from their organisation base in Patan, in the Kathmandu valley. They are also providing water and masks in other areas, working to compliment the support provided by ctw (clean the world earthquake response effort) who are also providing food and shelter.

Our support for Shanti Griha will provide relief to lots people directly hampered by the earthquakes.

Since the government is busy in immediate rescue and relief operations in the most affected regions, they have not been able to provide necessary aids in the schools that have been destroyed.

Orion Training Center aim to re-establish schools in Kaski district by providing temporary classrooms to urge the students to attend their classes. They will combine this with conducting awareness programs to address the trauma and stress resulting from the deadly earthquake.

After visiting the affected places and learning the traumatized condition of the children all across the district, they have come up with a plan to set up temporary classrooms constructed out of local materials like bamboo, mud, stones, timber including plastics and tents. The same classrooms can be used by the villagers as a shelter for their safety in the event of further quakes.

Many parents are still hesitant to send their children to schools, and the children have naturally become more vulnerable to fear, depression and the tendency to get easily frightened, thus losing self-confidence. Orion Training Center has been granted official permission by the District Education Office to launch this program so as to restore the educational activities of the district, and train teachers how best to handle their students traumatized by the quakes by providing psycho-social counseling to help them get rid of the fear and enjoy their time at school.

Thank you to the friends and supporters of Room 13 International who have contributed in support of these efforts so far.

We are continuing to collect and distribute donations post updates on the activities as we receive them. The recovery process for Nepal will be a long one and we are counting on the wealth and wisdom of our global community to carry on supporting these local initiatives.

Donations and contributions can be made via Paypal using the link below:

A set of beautiful custom made moneyboxes are currently touring the world to raise funds and support for Room 13 International!

The Room 13 World Tour is the latest fundraising initiative organised by TBWA.

TBWA Tiger Academy is a global training programme run every year for 40 of the company’s young and most promising employees. Every year, the TBWA Tigers are tasked to come up with an entrepreneurial and creative project to raise funds for Room 13 International.

This year, the TBWA Tigers commissioned Room 13 studios to design and create a unique artwork that would also serve as a moneybox to travel the world raising awareness and money for Room 13 International. The proceeds are directed to the Rod Wright Bursary Fund, introduced by the trustees of Room 13 International in honour of our founding Chairman, and will be used to support entrepreneurial and creative projects put forward by Room 13 studios.

Moneybox created by Room 13 Aragon, London, England

Moneybox created by Room 13 Community Studio, Fort William, Scotland

Moneybox created by Room 13 Aseema, Mumbai, India

Moneybox created by Room 13 Delmar, St Louis, USA

Moneybox created by Room 13 Aragon, London, England

Room 13 studios in Scotland, England, India and the USA put forward designs and created the 5 artistic pieces you see below. Each of these is now on a route around the worldwide network of TBWA – from Europe, to the America’s, Africa, Asia and the South Pacific.

Inspired to donate? Please do!

Our thanks to the Rotary Club of Esk Valley, who are tonight hosting a ceilidh to raise funds for Room 13 International. Members of the club have shown great support for our studios and projects in Scotland and overseas. In 2013 some members attended a presentation from young artists and studio managers responsible for the Room 13 studios in Lochaber, Scotland, and others have previously visited the studio in Caol Youth Centre.

We thank them for their efforts in support of our work and hope everyone has a fantastic evening!

Members of The Rotary Club of Esk Valley meeting some of the young artists and studio managers on a previous visit to Room 13